Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered MotheringAndrea O'Reilly Feminist scholars of motherhood distinguish between mothering and motherhood, and argue that the latter is a patriarchal institution that is oppressive to women. Few scholars, however, have considered how mothering, as a female defined and centred experience, may be a site of empowerment for women. This collection is the first to do so. The book examines how mothers imagine and implement theories and practices of mothering that are empowering to women. Central to this inquiry is the recognition that mothers and children benefit when the mother lives her life, and practices mothering, from a position of agency, authority, authenticity, and autonomy. The collection has five sections: Feminist Mothering, Lesbian Mothering, African-American Mothering, Mothers and Daughters, and Mothers and Sons. |
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Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering Andrea O'Reilly Limited preview - 2004 |
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adolescent Adrienne Rich adult African African-American mothers Andrea O'Reilly Anglo-American feminist appearance evaluation Arcana argues Audre Lorde baby behavior biological black mothers black women boy culture challenge chapter child childrearing Collins community mothering connection custody disconnection dominant discourse emotional empowered mothering empowerment expectations experience father feel felt female feminine feminism feminist mothers feminist theory gender gender roles girls grandmothers heterosexual homophobia Ibid identity institution of motherhood intensive mothering interviewed lesbian families lesbian mothers lesbian parents Lillith lives male masculinity maternal mother-daughter relationship motherline mothers and daughters mothers and sons mothers of sons myths narrative non-biological mother nurturing oppression othermothers participants partner patriarchal motherhood Patricia Hill Collins Paula Caplan practice psychological racism raise relational Research on Mothering resistance responsibility Rich Rich's Sara Ruddick sexism sexual social society son's stories struggle survival Toni Morrison traditional woman born writes